Selecting and Implementing a Colony Management System
By Andy Fleming
Every facility is different. What is best for you will depend on your workflow, your facility, and your requirements.
The Latest Buzz on Insectaries
By Elizabeth Weisenberg, Yun Lee
In the last ten years, there has been a considerable increase in demand for insectaries in laboratories, particularly in the government sector. This article will explore the reasons behind the increase in demand, the guidelines used to design these facilities, and the common characteristics and details of design.
A Comprehensive Review of the IEQ and Energy Savings Impact of Dynamically Varying Air Change Rates in Labs and Vivariums
By Gordon P. Sharp
The greatest single approach for reducing energy use in vivariums is to reduce or vary the room air change rates.
Dynamic Variation of Laboratory Air Change Rates
By Gordon P. Sharp
A New Approach to Saving Energy and Enhancing Safety
Application of NASA Technology in Animal Laboratories
By Alistair Thompson
Photocatalytic technology developed for aerospace can reduce occupational exposure to laboratory animal aeroallergens.
Quality Assurance: Best Practices in an ABSL-3 Environment
By Melissa Williams, BS,LATG, Brad Fisher, AA, LATG, James Magrath, LATG
As Animal Biosafety Level 3 (ABSL-3) suites become more prevalent within the biomedical research community, laboratory animal care professionals must increasingly meet the challenges posed by safety regulations and policy requirements. Developing the appropriate standard operating procedures (SOPs) within these environments holds the keys to achieving this.
One Frog, Two Fish, Red Leg, Few Fish: Stress in the Aquatic Animal's Ecosystem
By Emily Cassidy, BS, RVT, LATG
“I don’t know what happened! Yesterday, this (insert your choice: frog, fish, xenole, lobster, sea urchin, etc.) looked fine. I walked in this morning and it was dead!”
TurnKey Modular Vivarium Design
By Meg Wilson
The Modular Laboratory Solution: What’s Similar, What’s Unique, and What’s New?
Mr. Architect; how much is my animal facility going to cost?
By Alex B. Brouwer, AIA
The past decade has shown renovation costs closing in on the cost of new construction. What are the implications for the future?
BSL-3 Supply and Exhaust Air
By Jon Crane, AIA, LEED AP, William Freeman
It seems that HEPA filtration has become an arbitrary decision for BSL-3 laboratories and animal facilities; however, there should be clear rationale for their use.
Inhalation/Aerosolization - Facilities and Equipment That Support Airborne Exposure Protocols
By Jerry Percifield
Inhalation studies require specialized equipment, specialized design, and specialized operational protocols for a safe facility.
Flexible Validation Concepts: Creativity is the Key
By Bruce Williamson
What do garage door openers have to do with validation of systems in the vivarium? They serve as a simple example of how to apply key validation principles.
Independent Monitoring Systems: A Need For Animal Care Facilities
By Elizabeth Matt
An independent environmental monitoring system puts the control of the animal care facility into the hands of the investigators, the director, and the staff.